This is the private cloud
Cloud computing has become one of the most important success factors for modern companies. More than 75% of all German companies now use and benefit from cloud computing services. There are three different forms of cloud: public clouds, hybrid clouds and private clouds. In the following, we will explain what a private cloud is and why this form is particularly important for companies.
Private cloud - particularly important for companies
The private cloud is a cloud environment that is only provided for a single end user and to which third parties have no access. The respective resources and applications can only be used by the designated end user, and often IT infrastructure is also used exclusively within the framework of a private cloud. In addition, access to the private cloud is via an internal network or a virtual private network (VPN).
This therefore means that, unlike a public or hybrid cloud, the end user has full control over the entire system and access to the private cloud is restricted to internal users. This is why the private cloud is also referred to as an internal or enterprise cloud. Especially when a company needs to protect sensitive or secret operational data, a private cloud is used.
Due to various data protection regulations, companies from the healthcare and finance sectors, for example, have to use private clouds. However, a private cloud can also be the right solution for government agencies and companies from the pharmaceutical, security and IT sectors, as well as all other companies that need special protection for internal documents.
The basic principle of a private cloud is as follows: As a user, one benefits from the advantages of cloud computing, i.e. above all from the fact that all the company's data and applications can be used from anywhere and at any time. At the same time, in contrast to hybrid and public cloud, the operator or end user retains full control of the system and does not outsource this task to an external provider.
IaaS and PaaS
So with a private cloud, the company has complete control over an internal cloud system. When private clouds were first used, this often included the company providing the IT infrastructure. However, a private cloud can also be provided as IaaS and PaaS.
The use of IaaS in particular is now the standard in modern companies. IaaS stands for (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) and refers to the provision of the necessary cloud infrastructure, i.e. computers, storage and network. This means that a company has its own cloud system, but does not have to provide an internal corporate structure for it. This leads to an enormous reduction in costs and an increase in flexibility and scalability.
Meanwhile, Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) can also be offered for application in a private cloud. Just like IaaS, PaaS includes cloud infrastructure such as servers, storage and networks. In addition, with PaaS, companies can also access database management systems, business intelligence (BI) services, development tools and other services.
Advantages and disadvantages of the private cloud
The biggest advantage of a private cloud is certainly that it gives a company or organization full control over its own cloud. All applications as well as the IT infrastructure are only for the dedicated end user. At the same time, the applications are run internally and behind the firewall, which ensures maximum protection of the system.
However, maximum control also means maximum effort and maximum responsibility. The internal IT department is liable for a private cloud. Furthermore, extensive resources and, above all, specialist personnel must be provided for management. In addition, a private cloud is significantly less flexible and therefore more difficult to scale than a hybrid or public cloud.
Advantages:
- meets the highest security standards, therefore also suitable for public authorities or the healthcare sector
- individually adapted to the needs of the company
- unlimited bandwidth can be used
- ideal application with predictable resources
- full control over the cloud
Disadvantages:
- requires high level of IT expertise
- expensive to manage and maintain
- Less flexible than public or hybrid cloud
The other forms of cloud
As mentioned earlier, there is also hybrid and public cloud in addition to private cloud. The most important difference between the different types of cloud is that in a public cloud all services and in a hybrid cloud some of the services are provided by external providers.
Public cloud
A public or public cloud is provided by a cloud provider over the Internet and can therefore be used by any user. When a company chooses a public cloud, it is often because of the significantly lower costs compared to a private cloud. In addition, a public cloud is also significantly more flexible and easier to scale than a private cloud. The advantages of the public cloud in e-commerce
Hybrid cloud
The use of a hybrid cloud offers companies the opportunity to benefit from both the advantages of the private cloud and the strengths of the public cloud. For example, sensitive data and applications can run in the private domain while less sensitive data is stored in the public cloud. In this way, private clouds can also be made scalable and more resistant to peak loads.